CASE123 MPS Leather Holsters Chronology

CASE123 MPS Large/Oversized Leather Belt Clip Holsters from the beginning

Ever since the introduction of the original CASE123 MPS (Multi-layer Protection System) leather holster for Apple iPhone 4 back in Dec 2010, it has became an instant success in equipping iPhone users with a carrying solution without having to take their beloved protective case off.  Today, this original model is widely sold on Amazon as well as on the CASE123 official website.

Subsequently, seeing the widespread use of rugged cases such as the otterbox commuter, Ballistic SG series, and the likes, CASE123 has released the MPS XL Leather Holster, suited for users using a rugged case as their protection.

• CASE123 MPS XL on Amazon
• CASE123 MPS XL on CASE123.COM

With the release of the Samsung Galaxy S2, android phones were on the rise that led to today's widespread popularity.  And when the Samsung Galaxy S3 was introduced in May 2012, with its large screen and slim profile, it has captured many users instantly.  In Jun 2012, CASE123 introduced the CASE123 MPS XXL leather holster to provide Samsung Galaxy S3 users with a belt carrying solution while the sleek phone is wrapped in a TPU cover or rugged cases (ie. Otterbox Commuter).  It has been an instant success, and continues to be a hot selling item. 

• CASE123 MPS XXL for Samsung Galaxy S3 on Amazon
• CASE123 MPS XXL for Samsung Galaxy S3 on CASE123.COM

With the launch of the Apple iPhone 5 in Sept 2012, CASE123 was quick to extend the MPS leather holster line up to equip iPhone 5 users with an oversized carrying solution.  With 3 series introduced nearly simultaneously, iPhone 5 users using different case sizes are accommodated, with 2 leather types to choose from. 

 

• CASE123 MPS SL Elite for Apple iPhone 5 on Amazon
• CASE123 MPS SL Elite for Apple iPhone 5 on CASE123.COM
• CASE123 MPS SL Urban for Apple iPhone 5 on Amazon
• CASE123 MPS SL Urban for Apple iPhone 5 on CASE123.COM

• CASE123 MPS TL Elite for Apple iPhone 5 on Amazon
• CASE123 MPS TL Elite for Apple iPhone 5 on CASE123.COM
• CASE123 MPS TL Urban for Apple iPhone 5 on Amazon
• CASE123 MPS TL Urban for Apple iPhone 5 on CASE123.COM

• CASE123 MPS XLR Elite for Apple iPhone 5 on Amazon
• CASE123 MPS XLR Elite for Apple iPhone 5 on CASE123.COM
• CASE123 MPS XLR Urban for Apple iPhone 5 on Amazon
• CASE123 MPS XLR Urban for Apple iPhone 5 on CASE123.COM

In May 2013, two additional models were introduced: The CASE123 MPS XXL for iPhone 5 using a waterproof case (ie. Otterbox Armor Series) or battery case (ie. Mophie), and the CASE123 MPS XXL for Samsung Galaxy S4 (compatible with Otterbox Commuter, Urban Armor Gear Composite Case, and more).  The introduction of these 2 new holsters were an instant success. 

• CASE123 MPS XXL for Apple iPhone 5 using a Waterproof Case or Battery Case on Amazon
• CASE123 MPS XXL for Apple iPhone 5 using a Waterproof Case or Battery Case on CASE123.COM

• CASE123 MPS XXL for Samsung Galaxy S4 on Amazon
• CASE123 MPS XXL for Samsung Galaxy S4 on CASE123.COM

The CASE123 MPS XXL Oversized Leather Holster is also available for LG Optimus G, LG Google Nexus 4, HTC 8X, HTC One, and more. 

What's Next?

New CASE123 MPS line up are in the works, with 2 series being introduced simultaneously by fall 2013.  Stay tuned to our blog for updates. 

What we have in store already before the Samsung galaxy s3 North America launch

Well, this is it for now, but lots more to come.  waiting for the otterbox, ballistic, more case-mate, more tech21.

Unless there are more delays, the much anticipated Samsung Galaxy S3 should be launching in North America (both Canada and US) next week.  If you want to be protected right when you get your hands on the phone, why not pickup a case from CASE123?  Many TPU gel skins styles and back cases are available to ship already.  More will be coming this weekend.

Musubo cases for Apple iPhone 4 / 4S are now available at CASE123.

Cases for Samsung Galaxy S3 starting to be available

With the Samsung Galaxy S3 being the most anticipated android smartphone of the year, we are starting to have accessories available to ship now at www.case123.com.

Right now, we have the case-mate barely there case, TECH21 Iimpact Snap case, Case-mate and Wrapsol screen protectors, and TPU gel skins available.  We have on order the otterbox commuter and defender series rugged cases, ballistic SG and SG MAXX rugged cases, case-mate pop case, case-mate brushed aluminum case, TECH 21 cases, as well as Samsung OEM flip folio cases.  Come check us out frequently to see what new we have in stock for the Samsung Galaxy S3!!!

CASE123 Store closing its week days operations

Very sad, but we do have to cut the losses and change the business models when we can.

Starting in  July 2011, our store location will only be open on Sat.  Have to let our weekday staff knows about this decision.......  Not my favourite thing to do for sure.

Verizon iPhone 4

With the newly released Verizon iPhone 4, there are some differences in the physical appearance of the phone.  As discussed in various online articles, the Verizon version of iPhone 4 have moved its antenna to avoid the previously reported antenna problem with the GSM version of  the iPhone 4.  Along with this, the construct of the metallic ring around the iPhone 4 have prompted the shift in the mute button to be closer to the volume buttons.

Now, this can be an opportunity or disadvantage to case makers.  For case makers that made precise cutouts on the mute and volume buttons, their cases will not be compatible with the Verizon iPhone 4.  For those that made a single wide cut out, what they have created for the GSM version of iPhone 4 would be fully compatible with the new Verizon iPhone 4.  

The opportunity is, this will be a huge feature that Verizon iPhone 4 cusotmers will be looking for; a compatible case as soon as they receive their pre-ordered phones.  

At CASE123, most of our best-selling TPU gel skins are compatible with the new Verizon iPhone 4, as we have a single wide cutout on them.  Furthermore, this does not affect out line of multi-layer protector system holsters and sleeves, as they can be used to holder either version of the iPhone 4.  Maybe more luckily, our real carbon fiber back case for iPhone 4 is compatible, making it a compelling product available right from the start. 

For a Verizon-compatible iPhone 4 case, visit us at www.case123.com.

out....

CASE123 Store Blog

I have started another blog dedicated to updates on our CASE123 line of business's activities.  See us for updates at http://case123store.blogspot.com.  There's a twitter updates widget in this blog, that would should my news updates on iPhone 5, iPad 2, BlackBerry playbook, or other interesting mobile discussions.

Ebay listings are back today

finally, the one week of no new ebay listing has passed, felt like forever.

actually, it wasn't that smooth.  expected to be able to list this morning, it wasn't that straight forward afterall.  upon trying to list an item manually on ebay, a message popped up saying that we cannot list new items for 30 days!!!!  30 DAY!!!!  that's basically forever for us, and we might as well start another business.  not panicing, i quickly called up ebay customer service, who in turned forwarded me to the ebay trust and safety team.  the person on the line was very helpful, and help re-instated the listing capability within seconds.  quickly tried it, and we're back in business.......  normal business.

and throughout the day, sales from 1-day auction listings are already trickling in.  let's see if everything would be back to normal in the next few days, bringing in 80+ sales per day.

No Auctions, No Sales on Ebay

Well, with our listing privileges suspended until end of this week, we are forced to trial out how sales looks like with only Ebay fixed price listing, no Ebay auction listings.

SALES DROPPED BY 5X - 6X!!!

There you have it.  the best ebay strategy seems to be having auction listings always, with fixed prices listings there for the add-on sale.

if ebay sales continue to behave like this, we might as well go serve tim horton's coffee for a living, because at least the effort vs. pay is more reasonable.

Ebay Vero Violation

Just got a violation on our ebay account through Vero, for a case that has an apple logo on it.  can't list auctions for the next 7 days.......  but then, the remaining auctions of the day did alright.  

Wonder if it's actually a local competitor that was the whistle-blower, 'cause if it was............  as the Chinese would say, "you're the 1st, i'll be the 15th (你做初一， 我做十五)!!"

Without having to analyze data and list auctions, it did free me up to fix up our CASE123.COM online store site, did some SEO keyword updates, updated some banners, as well updated how the store landing page looks like.

Ebay sales showing signs of slow down.......

Our best in 52 week was the last week of 2010, as expected.  now into the third week of Jan 2011, sales are starting to slow down. i guess it is expected, but still not a good sign to see.  maybe we have not introduced enough new products over the last 2 months or so.  have to keep looking, keep sourcing.

CASE123 MPS sales and boxing week ebay sales

we are very please that our CASE123 multi-layer protection system holsters and cases are starting to pick up in sales on ebay also.  it is nice to see that customers are interested in holsters that can protect an iphone 4 in a gel skin or back case, maximizing protection and usability.

and with boxing day started yesterday, we have hit all time high sales today!!!  as of now, 116 items were sold in the last 24 hours, which tops our previous high of just over 100 items.  just like last year, ebay sales right after christmas is an all year high, and lasts until the end of Jan.  we hope the trend will hold true.

in particular, alot of customers must have received ipod touch 4 as christmas gifts, as we have sold many ipod touch 4 gel skins or leather cases.  this is somewhat expected, but not it's proven!!!

some of our stock is running low (hot selling items too), and we need to restock them ASAP to keep our momentum.  hopefully we will get them to our hands by next wed.

with taxation year ending, we are getting busy with filing taxes for the various revenue streams that we have.....

More and more MPS sales!!!

Now that we have launched the CASE123 Multi-layer Protection System, both at our retail store and on our online store (at www.case123.com), we are seeing more and more sales, probably consistent, rolling in.

we've  made our first MPS - Elite Executive holster sale at www.case123.com yesterday, and in store, we are selling a couple every day that we are open.  we just need ebay to start picking up now so customers looking for a holster that would fit an iphone 4 with a gel skin or back case can find this product.

Multi-Layer Protection System sales are coming in!!!

By now, our MPS are being listed on both case123.com as well as ebay.  Sales are starting to come in, more so for the MPS Lite, but it's likely due to the fact that MPS Lite was posted before the MPS holsters.

In store, MPS holsters are getting attentions!!!  It is exactly what some customers are looking for, which they cannot get anywhere else (short of buying a blackberry bold 9000 holster, which has a sleep magnet which is not that desirable).

Now, next step is to get the MPS holster, MPS Lite, and Complete MPS known to the world.  advertising would be the key here.  Let's see how some advertising can affect sales.

Ebay Negative Feedbacks

As a seller, ebay search standing is as important as it gets.  and with feedback affecting search standing, negative feedbacks are as undesirable as they sound.  however, there's nothing an ebay seller can do to avoid buyers from providing negative feedbacks.  some are probably outright mad at some situations (most of the time from Canadapost, because we ship the next day).  so in the end, a seller would be monitoring the feedbacks received as if it's the stock ticker, hoping it's always positive, and that the negative ones will expire (out of the search standing calculations).

this is very ridiculous.

so if an obnoxious buyer knows about this, he/she can always screw around his/her seller.  what a system for sellers wanting to run a business.

there comes a day where search standing is so low that we will take our business out of the ebay ecosystem.

Multi-Layer Protection System are Packaged and Displayed!!!

Finally, a long night, where we have packaged up our new multi-layer protection (MPS) holster for iPhone 4, priced, and displayed at our store front.  our online store www.case123.com has also been updated with a front intro screen illustrating the MPS holster (MPS - Racer 1.0, to be exact).

So all those customers that have been waiting for this item can finally get their hands on it.

100 items sold in 89 sales in the last 24 hours on Ebay

At this moment in time, we have sold 100 items in 89 sales over the last 24 hours.  i believe this is the best sales day we have every had up to now, and met our first milestone of 100 items (ideally it should be 100 sales).  let's see if we can break that second level milestone later today.

Our MPS Retail Packaging Boxes are here!!!

Finally got our official retail packaging boxes, nicely made, high quality with printing just like the way we have provided them.

Now, putting the Multi-Layer Protection System holsters in the box, it is a bit loose, so we'll need to look for something to stabilize the holster, ideally sitting vertically centered to create a feel of a floating holster in the box.

The Carbon Fiber pattern back cases for iPhone 4 with CASE123 product stamps are made nicely also.

We're almost ready for the official launch!!

Status of switching primary source for MPS holsters production

After scrambling for a day, our target new primary source for the production of our Multi-layer Protection System holster for iPhone 4 responded that they should be able to deliver.  If the quality is the same as all the many previous products we have ordered from them, this batch and future batches of holsters are going to be amazing!!!

so from our lessons learned, we have quickly came up with a detailed dimensions diagram specification, as well as explanations of all the fine details required of our CASE123 multi-layer protection system holster.  We should hopefully see samples in the next few days (in pictures), and go for the order right away.  The next thing to worry about is when they'll be fabbing out and whether the timeline would fit into the fast-track shipment schedule.

We should still be able to capture the late Christmas gift shoppers, and those who would be shopping for protection for that new iPhone 4 Christmas gifts!!!

When many things go wrong and you hit the bottom, there is always hope.....